Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomagrevo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Hokomagrevo’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems; freely flowering habit; compact mophead-type inflorescences with green, white and light purple-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HOKOMAGREVO’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘HOKOMARORE’

Applicants: Cornelis P. Eveleens & Peter R. Kolster

Ser. No. 15/999,929

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hokomagrevo’.

The new Hydrangea is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomarevo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,260. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Hokomarevo’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands on Jun. 24, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Hokomagrevo’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Hokomagrevo’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate         growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Compact mophead-type inflorescences with green, white and         light purple-colored sterile flowers.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Hokomarevo’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hokomarevo’ in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are green, white and light purple in color whereas sterile flower sepals of plants of ‘Hokomarevo’ are red purple in color becoming red purple and green with development.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomarore’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/999,929. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hokomarore’ in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are green, white and light purple in color whereas sterile flower sepals of plants of ‘Hokomarore’ are red purple in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomathyst’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,261. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hokomathyst’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Hokomathyst’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘Hokomathyst’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than         plants of ‘Hokomathyst’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of         ‘Hokomathyst’ in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals         of plants of the new Hydrangea are green, white and light purple         in color whereas sterile flower sepals of plants of         ‘Hokomathyst’ are red purple in color with green-colored         margins.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hortmagreclo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,063. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hortmagreclo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Hortmagreclo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller inflorescences than         plants of ‘Hortmagreclo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of         ‘Hortmagreclo’ in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals         of plants of the new Hydrangea are green, white and light purple         in color whereas sterile flower sepals of plants of         ‘Hortmagreclo’ are green to dark green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Hokomagrevo’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Hokomagrevo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not typically treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hokomagrevo’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Hydrangea     macrophylla ‘Hokomarore’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,260. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six weeks at             temperatures about 15° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 100 days             at temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 140 days             at temperatures about 15° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and somewhat             outwardly spreading plant habit; overall plant shape,             obovate to broadly obovate; strong and sturdy lateral             branches; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 42.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 55 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit about 17 lateral             branches develop per plant; pinching will enhance branching.         -   Length.—About 22.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Varying from upright to about 55° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 144A. Developed: Close to             144A; at the internodes, occasionally moderately tinged with             close to N186B; when woody, close to 199B to 199C.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Dense. Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Color: Close to N186B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Short attenuate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to slightly rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth to moderately rugose,             glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             137B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between             NN137A and 139A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to             146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             144B; towards the margins, close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular in shape;             fertile flowers face mostly upright and sterile flowers face             upright to outwardly depending on their position in the             inflorescence; fertile flowers have not been observed to             develop beyond the bud stage.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late spring to             late summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about ten days on the             plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers last             about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 100             fertile flowers develop per panicle and about 230 sterile             flowers develop per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 10.9 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.1 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Shape: Obovate to ovate. Color: Close to N187D;             towards the base, close to 145D; immature sepals, close to             145B.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Narrowly cup-shaped. Color: Close to between             144B and 145A fading towards the base to close to 150D.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 2.5 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl; petals have not been observed to develop             beyond the flower bud stage. Length: About 4 mm. Width:             About 2.5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 195B to 195C.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl; petals have not been observed to develop             beyond the flower bud stage. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 76D.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             five in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About             1.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 150D; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 144C; towards the base and the             margins, close to 150D; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four, or             occasionally three, in a single whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm.             Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Reniform, convex. Apex: Broadly             ovate to reniform. Base: Broadly cuneate to truncate.             Margin: Shallowly serrate to entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 144A; towards the             base, close to 75C; towards the margins, close to NN155B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 146D; towards the             base, close to NN155B tinged with close to 75B to 75C;             towards the margins, close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 144A, 144B and N144C; towards the base,             close to NN155B slightly tinged with close to 75C; color             becoming closer to 143A with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 146C and 147C; towards the base,             close to NN155B tinged with close to 75C; towards the             margins, close to NN155B; color becoming closer to 146D with             development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 27.5°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Slightly pubescent;             matte. Color: Lighter than between 174D and 177D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 60C; fading proximally to close to             177B to 177C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: To date,             stamen development has not been observed on plants of the             new Hydrangea. Pistils: To date, pistil development has not             been observed on plants of the new Hydrangea.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: To date,             stamen development has not been observed on plants of the             new Hydrangea. Pistils: To date, pistil development has not             been observed on plants of the new Hydrangea.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from −20° C. to 35° C. and     are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomagrevo’ as illustrated and described. 